Ground-fault neutralizer by-pass switch reopening equipment



Oct. 18, 1949. NME. DlLLOW 2,485,367

' GROUND-FAULT NEUTRALIZER BY-PASS SWITCH REOPENING EQUIPMENT Filed June 30, 1948 Inventor Noel BDiHow,

His Attorney Patented Oct. 18, 1949 GROUND -FAULT' NEUTRALIZER BY-PASS SWITCH REOPENING EQUIPMENT Noel E. Dillow, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application June 30, 1948, Serial No. 36,108

7 Claims. 1"

The invention' relates to ground fault neutralizersystems, particularly of the'type wherein a fault toground on'one phase conductor of a polyphase'power' distribution system immediately increases'the' capacitive current to ground of the ungrounded'phase' conductors of the system and wherein a neutral point'of the system is grounded through" a so-called' neutralizer comprising a specially'proportioned'reactance capable of providing'aneutralizing inductive or lagging currentv for immediately suppressing capacitive ground fault currents of a transient or temporary character without'requiringthe operation of any ofthe selectively-timed automatic circuit breakers and control relays protecting the various parts of the system against sustained faults.

In order. to enable the selectively-timed fault protective automatic relays to operate the proper circuit breakers to disconnect or isolate a sustainedground fault in any part of the system, as.wellas .to take care of open circuit faults, it is necessary promptly to by-pass the ground fault neutralizingreactance by closing a by-pass switch connectingtliesystem neutral directly to ground whenever a substantial fault current flows through the neutralizer reactance for a suficient timethat is long enoughto indicate that the fault is not of a transient or temporary character.

However; when the circuit breakers that disconnect or isolate the various parts of the power system are .of'the automatically timed reclosing typeit'is desirable to reopen the by-pass switch just; as soonas the circuit breakers effectively isolate/a sustained. fault or clear a non-transient fault andthereby restore the effectiveness of the neutralizerreactance to neutralize other transient groundfaults on other parts of the system after thenon-transient fault is cleared or while the sustained fault is isolated. Thus in case of a succession.of.various'kinds of ground or open circuitfaults on different parts of the system such astmay, occur during a severe lightning or wind stormproper timing of the closing and opening ofItheneutralizer by-pass switch is required in each casefor effectively protecting against the transient ground faults that can be immediately neutralizedand the non-transient faults that will requireltimed circuit breaker clearing or isolation. As the. by-nass switch timing control requirements may be repeated upon each reclosing of differently timed circuit breakers protecting different parts of the system, the ground fault neutralizer by-pass switch timing control necessarily mustoperateunder widely variable conditions.

In'th'e ground fault neutralizer system disclosed and claimed" in the Light Patent 2,421,630 assigned to the present assignee, a motor-operated multiple cam contact timing mechanism is started into operation upon the closure of the neutralizer lay-pass switch for automatically reopening the switch under suitable coordinated conditions at fixed time intervals for a limited number of times in order to provide successive intervals wherein the automatic selectively-timed ground fault relays can operate properly in selectively controlling thereclosing circuit breakers protecting the various parts of the system. However, some difiiculties maybe encountered in applying such a relatively fixed time repeating by-pass switch reopening cycling control to power systems having selective isolating circuit breakers successively reclosing in different lengths of time with which the by-pass switch reopening cycling timing control must be coordinated to avoid interference or unnecessaryv delays in protecting the system.

One of the'objects of the present invention is to providean improved automatic self -synchronizing form of automatic ground faultneutralizer by-pass switch timin control whereby the closing and reopeningthereof may be more effectively controlled no' matter what faults may occur' or what theresulting timed operation of the various disconnecting and isolating circuit breakers of the power system under the control of the automatic selectively-timed fault responsive relays associatedtherewith may be.

Another object is to provide a ground fault neutralizer by-pass switch timing control wherein the by passswitch is automatically closed whenever a predetermined current flows through the neutralizer for a predetermined time interval and special time delay means is synchronic-ed upon each opening of the by-pass switch to become effective a predetermined time interval thereafter for reopenin the by-pass switch when the by-pass current falls below a predetermined value. Thus the improved self-synchronizing double time delay control system automatically controls the closing and opening of the neutralizer by-pass switch to provide eifective operation of the neutralizer whenever possible under transient fault conditions on the system while at the same time enabling the automatic circuit breakers andv selectively-timed control relays therefore to operate most effectively to clear or isolate sustained faults on different parts of the system.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing' diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment of my invention as applied to a tl rec-phase altcrnating current electric system of the type where in a fault to ground on any phase conductor of the system substantially increases the capacit current to ground of the ungrounded phase c cluctors. As shown, the system includes a trans mission and distribution line comprising phase conductors I, 2 and which are arranged to be connected to a three-phase source comprising windings l, and by suitable circuit terrupting means such a circuit breaker "I. It will, of course, be understood by those skilled in the art that the system may comprise other sources and lines interconnecting the various stations and suitable interrupting means like the circuit breakers la, and lb, for exampl for disconnecting the lines from the station buses on the occurrence of faults.

For controlling the opening of the circuit breaker and such other circuit breakers as the system may comprise through their trip coils '1, suitable relaying means responsive to ground faults are provided. As illustrated, these relaying means comprise simple overcurrent relays cl, examples of which are wellknown to the art. To respond to ground faults, the relay 8 may be connected to be energized in accordance with the sum of the currents in the line conductors at the relay location. This may be done by connecting the windings of the relay across parallel con-- nected current transformer 9, ill and H, respectively associated with the phase conductors I, 2 and 3.

The windings 4, 5 and 6, which may be those of a power transformer, are shown Y-connected with the associated line l23 to provide a neutral point 12 which may be used for grounding purposes, but neutral points otherwise suitably derived may be used as will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The neutral point l2, as well as other neutral points, not shown, on the system, Whether grounded through impedance devices or not, are arranged to be connected to ground to establish a predetermined grounding of the system to accord with the prearranged settings of the ground fault protective relays 8 so as to insure the desired selectivity of relaying operation, for example, as disclosed in United States Letters Patent 2,258,248. Inasmuch, however, as it is desirable to clear as many ground faults as possible without circuit breaker operation, at least one of the neutral points of the system such, for example, as the neutral point [2, and possibly others depending on the extent of the system and also whether or not the system may at times be operated as a divided system, are grounded through suitable arc suppressing apparatus such as a ground fault neutralizer l3 after the manner and for the purpose disclosed in United States Letters Patent 1,537,371,

The ground fault neutralizer reactance I3 is provided with a magnetic core l3 to form an impedance device whose zero phase sequence inductive reactance is such as to provide on the occurrence of a ground on a phase conductor of the system a lagging current for effectively suppressing all or part of the capacitance current to ground at the fault. In the event that the system is to be operated in separated parts at times or involves long lines, more than one neutralizer may be provided, and these will have their inductive reactances proportioned to match that portion of the system to which they apply. In other words, whether there is more than one neutralizer reactance or not, the neutralizers are proportioned depending upon the amount of the ystem in service to provide enough neutralizing lagging current to suppress the capacitance current to ground of the ungrounded phase conductors of the system on the occurrence of a ground fault, which if of a transient character will be eliminated by this suppressing action.

When the ground fault is not of a transient character, however, resort i had to selectivelytimed circuit breaker operation for isolating the faulty portion of the system without disturbing continuity of service on sound portions. In this case, it is necessary to rely upon the ground fault relay 8 and other ground fault relays of the system, but their action as heretofore pointed out can only be selective for that predetermined grounding of the system for which prearranged relay settings are made, all as set forth in United States Letters Patent 2,258,248, supra. Accordingly. to effect a solid grounding of the system a predetermined time after the occurrence of a ground fault, for example, a ten-second interval, sufiic nt for the ground fault neutralizer [3 to sup as the fault if of a transient character, arran ments are made for establishing a shunt con ction to ground around the ground fault neutralizer l3 and other neutral points to establish a solid connection to ground. These solid connections to ground may be established in any suitable manner, but a shown they may be accomplished by closing a normally open by-pass switching means M a predetermined time after the beginning of a predetermined current flow in the ground fault neutralizer l3 and likewise at other neutral points.

The particular type of grounding switch employed and the way in which the grounding switches are operated to establish the solid ground connections or bypass the ground fault neutralizers may be varied, but I have shown an arrangement such as disclosed in United States Letters Patent 2,296,109, issued September 15, 1942, Thus, as shown, the grounding switch I4 is a normally latched open biased to close switch and the trip-ping of the latch 15 is effected by a suitable time delay means initiated by the operation of a relay Hi. This relay [6 is operative in response to a predetermined current flow through the ground fault neutralizer l3 and may be connected to be energized from a current transformer l! in series therewith, as shown. The normally closed contacts 18 of the relay l6 maintain the energizing circuit of a time delay dropout relay 19, which may be of the induction disk alternating current type, examples of which are well known in the art.

When the relay l9 closes its contacts 20 while the relay I6 is energized with its contacts 2| closed, the circuit of an auxiliary relay 22 is completed through a conductor 24 and b auxiliary switch contacts 25 on the grounding switch M. This auxiliary relay 22 through its normally closed contacts 36 completes the circuit of a second time delay dropout relay 2'! and, when energized, completes its own circuit through its normally open contacts 28 and opens the circuit of the relay 21. When the second time delay relay 21 drops out, the closing of its normally open contacts 28 completes the circuit of a tripping relay 29 through the conductor 24 and the b auxiliary switch contacts 25. When this relay picks up to close its normally open contacts 30, a predetermined time interval after effective energlzation of relay l6, usually less than 10 seconds, it completes the circuit of the grounding switch trip coil 3| through aconductor 32 and the b auxiliary switch contacts 33 on the grounding switch. Thus energization of the trip coil 3| effects the release of the spring biased latch IE to cause the closing of the by-pass switch l4 upon a predetermined current flow through the reactance l3 for a predetermined time interval.

If there is only neutral point on the system metallically connected to the circuit |-23, the relays 21 and 29 may be omitted and the relay 22 arranged to do the tripping. If, however, there are two or more neutral points to be grounded, then any differences in timin of the relays l9 at different locations, which resulted in the closing of one grounding switch before the closing of the others, could prevent the closing of the others if only one time delay relay l9 were used since the relays l6 would drop out with the closing of the grounding switch thus reenergizing the associated relays IS. The second timing relay 2'| prevents this since no grounding switch can be closed automatically until after all of the time delay relays |9 have properly functioned.

For restoring the grounding switch I4 to its open position, it may be provided with suitable opening means indicated as an electromagnet winding 34 whose circuit is controlled by the contacts 35 of a control relay 36. As illustrated, the control relay 36 is of the double coil type having a pick-up coil 31 and a seal-in or holding coil 38. The pick-up coil 31 is a relatively sensitive lowwatt coil connected to be energized by the discharge of the timing condenser 39 when the contacts 40 and 4| are both closed to complete the condenser discharge circuit through conductor 45. The contact 49 is operated by a relatively short time element relay 42 that is energized through conductor 43 each time the neutralizer by-pass switch I4 is opened as shown and the auxiliary contact 44 thereof is closed. Under these conditions relay 42 holds contact 40 in the open position in which it is shown.

Contact 4| is operated by an electroresponsive relay l5 energized through the conductors [ii and 48 from a current transformer d9 that is rev sponsive to the current in the by-pass circuit established through the ground conductor 59 and conductor 5| that connect the by-pass switch M in shunt with neutralizer I3. The relay 46 is calibrated to open the contact 4| when the current through the by-pass circuit exceeds a predetermined value and to reclose only when the current in the by-pass circuit falls below the predetermined value.

The condenser 39 is connected to be charged from a suitable D.-C. source indicated as plus and minus through the resistor 53 that is proportioned to provide a predetermined time interval for charging the condenser. However, when contacts 49 and 4| are closed to discharge the condenser 39 through the pick-up coil 31, then the resistor 53 serves as a current limiting resistor so as to maintain the current in the discharge circuit below the value to which the pickup coil 31 is effectively energized to pick-up relay 3% and thereby close contacts 35 and 38'.

Operation With the by-pass switch l4 latched in the open 30 position as shown, the neutralizer i3 is nor mally effective to neutralize any capacitive ground current that may flow when any transient ground G occurs on any of the line conductors 2 or 3 so as to quickly extinguish the arcing and permit the transient ground to clear. However, as soon as the current flowing through the neutralizer reactance l3 exceeds a predetermined value, the neutralizer current responsive relay l6 responds to start the timing action provided by the successively energized and deenergized relays I9, 22, 2'! and 29 so as to close the contact 30 and thereby effectively energize the trip coil 3| to release latch l5 and thereby effect the closing of the by-pass switch l4. Since closure of switch [4 shunts through conductors 50 and 5| the ground current in the system without any appreciable reactance in the circuit, the by-pass current responsive relay 49 immediately is energized to open is contact 4 Upon the closure of by-pass switch E i, contact 44 is open to deenergize relay 42 which in a relatively short time interval determined by the timing device 42 closes contact and thereby places the discharge of condenser 39 under the control of the by-Dass current responsive relay :6. Hence, as soon as the by-pass current through conductors and 5| and the closed lit, pass decreases below a predetermined value which may be a widely variable time interval, contact 4| will close. This immediately results in discharging condenser 39 through the pick-up winding 37 of relay 36 to effect closure of the contacts 35 and 38' thereof. The contact immediately establishes an energizing circuit for the seal-in or holding windin 38 through the contact of relay 42 while contact 35 establishes an energizing circuit through conductor 54 and contact 55 for energizing the opening winding of the by-pass switch M. In this way the by-pass switch I4 is re-opened as soon as the by-pass current falls below a predetermined value. Such reduction in the by-pass current will occur as soon as one of the automatic circuit breakers l, la or lb, as the case might be, opens in order to isolate the particular section of the alternating current system on which the ground fault has occurred. Consequently, the neutralizer i3 is rendered effective to take care of any other transient ground faults that may occur on the system While the section having a sustained ground fault thereon is isolated.

Upon each opening of the by-pass switch l4, contact 49 closes to energize relay 42 and thereby reopen its contacts 49 and 53. The opening of contact Ml immediately sets into operation the charging circuit for the condenser 39 and the re sister 53 is so proportioned that about 15 seconds is required before condenser 39 is charged up sufficiently to again effectively energize the pick-up winding 31 when the discharge circuit is closed.

'. Consequently, in case one of the circuit breakers ll, la, "Eb should reclose after a relatively short time interval and reestablish the flow of ground current through the neutralizer I3, then the train of closing timing relays |6, I9, 22, 21, 29 is again set into operation to reclose the by-pass switch It. If, upon reclosure of switch Hi, the circuit breaker again opens and reduces the current through the closed by-pass switch sufficient- 1y to reclose relay 48 within a time interval shorter than the charging time required for condenser 39, then the condenser will be unable to effectively energize the pickup coil 31 and the by-pass switch M will remain in the closed position. Thus to obtain this selective action, the charging time of the condenser 39 must be longer than the time interval provided by the changeover relays in, i9, 22, 2'! and 29.

The principal function of the relatively short time interval device 42 is to insure that the bypass current responsive relay 46 has sufiicient the by-pass switch i l under these conditions, a

manually operated switch 55 is provided for separately energizin the reopening winding 34.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1.ln combination, a neutral grounding reactance for suppressing transient ground faults in a polyphase power system, a by-pass switch therefor, automatic closing means for the switch including an electroresponsive time delay device effective as soon as the switch is opened for reclosing the switch in response to a predetermined current flow through the reactance for a predetermined time interval and automatic opening means for the switch including an electroresponsive time delay device effective only when the switch remains open for a longer interval than said predetermined time interval for reopening the switch in response to a decrease of the by-pass current below a predetermined value.

2. In combination a neutral grounding reactance for suppressing transient ground faults in a polyphase power system, a by-pass switch therefor, electroresponsive time delay means for closing the by-pass switch upon a predetermined current flow through the reactance for a predetermined time interval, electroresponsive means for reopening the by-pass switch as soon as the bypass current falls below a predetermined value, and synchronizing means responsive to the opening of the switch for rendering the reopening means ineffective for a longer time interval than said predetermined time interval.

3. In combination, a neutral grounding reactance for suppressing transient ground faults in a polyphase power system, a by-pass switch therefor, electroresponsive timing means connected to be energized upon each opening of the switch for reclosing the switch upon a current flow through the reactance above a predetermined value for a predetermined time interval, elcctrcresponsive control means connected to be energized in response to flow of current throng, he by-pass switch, and means including a l delay electrical device connected to be energized upon each opening of the switch to become effective a time interval thereafter for reopening the switch under the control of said control means when the by-pass current falls below a predetermined value.

4.1'n combination, a neutral grounding reactance for suppressing transient ground faults in a polyphase power system, a by-pass switch therefor, electroresponsive means responsive to a predetermined current through the reactance and having time delay means operated thereby for closing the by-pass switch whenever the predetermined current exists for a predetermined time interval, electroresponsive control means responsive to the by-pass current through the closed by-pass switch, and time delay means set into operation upon each opening of the by-pass switch to become effective after an interval longer than said predetermined time interval for reopening the by-pass switch under the control of said means when the by-pass current falls below a predetermined value.

5. In combination, a neutral grounding reactance for suppressing transient ground faults in a polyphase power system, a by-pass switch therefor, electroresponsive means responsive to a predetermined current through the reactance and having time delay means for closing the by-pass switch when the predetermined current exists for a predetermined time interval, means responsive to the resulting by-pass current through the bypass switch, and means including a capacitor having a charging circuit energized upon each opening of the by-pass switch to become effectively charged after an interval longer than said predetermined time interval and connected to be discharged under the control of said by-pass current responsive means for reopening the by-pass switch when the by-pass current falls below a predetermined value.

6. In combination, a neutral grounding reactance for suppressing transient ground faults in a polyphase power system, a by-pass switch for shunting the reactance, separate electroresponsive devices for opening and closing the switch, means including a relay responsive to a predetermined current through the reactance and time delay means operated under control of said relay for energizing the switch closing device when the predetermined current flows through the reactance for a predetermined time interval, and means including a relay responsive to the bypass current through the switch and a time delay electric device connected to be energized upon each opening of the switch to become effective a time interval thereafter for energizing the switch opening device under the control of the relay when the by-pass current falls below a predetermined value.

'7. In combination, a neutral grounding reactance for suppressing transient ground faults in a polyphase power system, a by-pass switch for shunting the reactance, separate electroresponsive devices for opening and closing the switch, means including a relay responsive to a predetermined current through the reactance and time delay means operated under control of said relay for energizing the switch closing device when the predetermined current fiows through the reactance for a predetermined time interval, a condenser having a time delay charging circuit and means including a normally closed time delay switch connected to be energized upon each opening of the by-pass switch and operable with a time delay upon a deenergization thereof when the by-pass switch closes to the closed position and a normally closed relay operated to the open position upon a flow of by-pass current through the switch above a predetermined value for jointly completing a discharge circuit for the condenser to effectively energize the by-pass switch opening device as soon as the by-pass current falls below the predetermined value after a predetermined eifective condenser charging time following each opening of the by-pass switch.

NOEL E. DILLOW.

No references cited. 

